Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has retained his position as the highest-paid footballer in Turkey despite Mohamed Salah's high-profile transfer to Trabzonspor, with the Nigerian's total guaranteed earnings at Galatasaray remaining higher than those of the Egyptian forward.

Salah joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2025/26 season, signing a two-year contract that runs until the summer of 2028. The deal guarantees him a net annual salary of €17 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in Turkish football based on base wages.

Although Salah's fixed salary exceeds Osimhen's €15 million annual base pay at Galatasaray, the Nigerian's contract includes additional financial benefits that significantly increase his total earnings.

Osimhen's deal, which runs until June 2029, comes with a €1 million annual loyalty bonus and a €5 million yearly image rights payment, taking his guaranteed annual package to €21 million.

This means the former Napoli striker earns €4 million more per year than Salah in guaranteed income, allowing him to maintain his status as Turkey's highest-paid footballer despite earning a lower basic salary.

Salah's contract, however, places greater emphasis on commercial earnings. Instead of receiving a fixed image rights payment, the Egypt captain will earn 20 per cent of revenue generated from official Trabzonspor merchandise bearing his name.

For Salah to surpass Osimhen's total guaranteed earnings, that merchandising arrangement would need to generate more than €20 million annually, a figure widely considered difficult to achieve given Trabzonspor's comparatively smaller global fan base, despite Salah's immense popularity after nine successful years at Liverpool.

During his time at the Premier League club, Salah scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, winning two Premier League titles and the 2019 UEFA Champions League.

Trabzonspor secured Salah's signature ahead of rivals Beşiktaş after negotiations between the player and the Istanbul club reportedly broke down over financial terms and agent commissions.

Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad also expressed interest and reportedly offered a package worth around $25 million per year, but the move failed to materialise.

Before the transfer was completed, Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan had maintained that no official agreement had been signed and that travel arrangements were still pending, even though reports indicated the deal was at an advanced stage, with a medical already scheduled.

Unless Salah's arrival sparks record-breaking merchandise sales and exceptional commercial revenue, Osimhen is expected to remain Turkish football's highest-paid player overall, even as Salah tops the list in terms of guaranteed base salary alone.